Chapter 15 Summary and Analysis

When the author, Anne, first met the Lee family, Lia was in a persistent vegetative state. She was a quadriplegic making only spastic, involuntary movements. Lia had surprised her doctors by living in this state for more than two years. Lia continued to be adored by her family. Foua groomed her beautifully and carried Lia on her back in an ornamental Hmong wrap known as a nyias. Lia remained able to conduct the non-voluntary actions of breathing, swallowing, sleeping and waking, as well as sneezing, grunting, and crying. However, her grunting and crying could not be associated with emotions or communication and her eyes seemed vacant, or, at times, scared. According to the medical establishment, Lia's actions were pure reflex.

Her parents believed differently. When Lia was discharged from MCMC and her doctors believed her death to be imminent, she had...